The Hall was full to hear
Colin and Paula Martin talk about their work on Lismore’s limekilns. Colin is
a retired lecturer in maritime studies from St Andrew’s University and Paula a
freelance Archaeologist researcher and their joint interest in the limekilns was
sparked when they first visited Lismore as members of the Morven Heritage
Society.

Colin started with a survey of
the maritime history of the island from 10,000bc to the present showing how
important it had been in every age until modern times when the majority of us
live our lives with very little reference to the sea except when we need to
cross it in ferries, at which point it can become a hindrance. The sea in earlier times was a
resource and a highway as all trade, exploration, and
business was done by boat. It was also an agency of power with castles
dominating seaways to control their feifdoms. The limekilns of Alistra, Port Ramsey, Port na
Moralachd, Sailen and Kilcheran all needed the sea to bring the coal to make the
lime which they traded as lime mortar or fertiliser from quays nearby.

The burning of lime for sale was begun by an enterprising Liosach
between 1790-99. Kilcheran started in 1803-04 to finance the catholic seminary
which was training Gaelic speaking priests for the area. Reports of its success
vary but it seems the priests would rather not have had to trade.

The biggest kiln at Sailen
began working around 1826 and operated until 1935 and the area remains full of
atmosphere with the workers’ cottages, the kiln itself, the coal store, quay and
the manager’s house all standing. Lismore's lime kilns are now in a state
of slow decay, but are impressive and of great interest to Liosachs and visitors
alike some of whom can remember their parents and grandparents working the lime.